updated 11:50 am EST, Thu December 10, 2009

EA exec may have slipped final name

Sony's PS3 motion controller may have already received a final name if a slip by EA chief John Riccitiello is a clue. Speaking at UBS' annual conference about the future influence of motion controllers like Microsoft's Project Natal, he was heard by IGN referring to the Sony controller as the Gem as a matter-of-fact statement. While the CEO is likely to have inside knowledge of plans, it's not known if the name reflects his knowledge or simply reflects the colored ball that defines the Sony controller.

The peripheral is intended to bring a better-than-Wii experience to the PS3 and should be more precise as well as support tricks like overlaying virtual objects. Sony has previously set the launch of the controller for sometime in the spring.